CASE REPORT: ENTEROCOCCUS HIRAE INFECTION IN SUCKLING PIGS

Abstract

This case report describes New Neonatal Porcine Diarrhea Syndrome (NNPDS) caused by Enterococcus hirae. Four piglets at 3–5 days old with diarrhea were submitted for diagnostic investigation. The histopathological analysis revealed numerous large Gram-positive cocci adherent to the luminal surface from the tip to the base of the villi. The organisms were tightly adherent to enterocytes on the villous tips and exfoliated enterocytes within the luminal detritus. In situ hybridization revealed positive signals of E. hirae, the enteroadherent Gram-positive cocci, in the intestinal tissue. The swab of distal jejunum and gut content was cultured positive for E. hirae. Taken all results together, it was concluded that neonatal diarrhea in piglets was caused by E. hirae.